Springfield man faces drug, traffic charges in Erie pursuit

Police accuse him of fleeing from a traffic stop and possessing suspected cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana early Sunday.

Tim Hahn @ETNHahn

An attempted traffic stop on a motorcycle on Erie's east side early Sunday morning turned into a police pursuit that led to the seizure of suspected drugs found on a Springfield Township man.

Erie police charge that Michael A. Luna, 33, of McKee Road, was found in possession of 20 grams of suspected cocaine, six grams of suspected methamphetamine and 462 grams of suspected marijuana, with all of the suspected drugs packaged in clear plastic bags, when officers apprehended him following a short pursuit on Sunday at about 1:15 a.m.

Erie police Patrolman Joshua Allison wrote in the criminal complaint that he was on patrol when he spotted a motorcycle, occupied by two people, that was traveling east on East Sixth Street with no rear lighting. When Allison attempted to stop the motorcycle, the driver sped off and traveled south on Reed Street, driving through two stop signs before running a red light at East 12th Street, according to information in the complaint.

The motorcycle turned onto East 14th Street and traveled west before police boxed it in at a parking lot at Holland Street, Allison wrote in the complaint. Investigators said Luna ran south but was apprehended.

A female passenger on the motorcycle told police that she begged Luna to stop because she was in fear for her safety, but he refused, according to the complaint.

Luna was arraigned Sunday afternoon by Erie 3rd Ward District Judge Tom Carney on charges of possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing police, recklessly endangering and three summary traffic violations. He was placed in the Erie County Prison on $100,000 bond.

Tim Hahn can be reached at 870-1731 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/ETNhahn.